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Fans tuning into this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard will see some noticeable changes during the broadcast.
As part of the PGA Tour’s Fan Forward initiative, viewers will notice fewer commercials during the Arnold Palmer Invitational broadcast. That time is being repurposed to live segments with an emphasis on player and caddie interactions.
Combined with storytelling elements and statistics, these segments will highlight what a player is facing in the moment and will be delivered via graphics as opposed to announcers to focus on the player and caddie conversations and their point of view. Mastercard is sponsoring the changes to the broadcast, which will be seen on NBC and Golf Channel.
“In addition to wanting more live golf action, fans are telling us they are more entertained when they can see and hear a player’s pre-shot process in the heat of the competition, and we are excited to work with Mastercard and NBC/Golf Channel to step back and allow fans to experience those intimate, real-time interactions during the telecast this week,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a release.
The Tour launched its Fan Forward survey in 2024, with more than 50,000 respondents providing data-guided decisions to help create the best version of the PGA Tour, per the release. When asked about enhancements that would most likely increase fan engagement with PGA Tour broadcasts, “Showing more conversations between players and caddies” was one of the top responses from both casual and core fans. Fans also noted they wanted to understand the strategy behind a certain shot, especially when there is access to an additive on-course conversation between competitor and caddie.
“It’s all about bringing fans closer to their passion for golf, giving them even more access to the players, their caddies and the strategies that are defining the course of play,” Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer of Mastercard, said in a release. “Fans can also drive the conversation through a new social-first initiative, connecting them to their favorite golf personalities. Together, we’re taking the viewing experience to the next level.”
Golf Channel will have live coverage of the first and second rounds from 2-6 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. Golf Channel coverage shifts to early-round coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-2:30 p.m., with NBC taking home coverage each day from 2:30-6 p.m. ET
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Arnold Palmer broadcast features fewer commercials, more player convos
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